Using Essential Oils for Digestion Support and Digestive Issues

If you deal with digestive problems, essential oils for digestion may bring some relief. Commonly suggested oils include anise, black pepper, cardamom, ginger, sweet fennel, sweet orange, peppermint, and sweet marjoram.

The Digestive System

Caution: Although recommended essential oils for digestion often include fennel and anise, anyone who has or had an estrogen-dependent cancer should probably avoid these oils, according to aromatherapy expert Robert Tisserand in my personal correspondence with him. Sources also recommend avoiding those oils if you have endometriosis.

Also, peppermint may aggravate GERD (gasto-esophageal reflux disease) or hiatal hernia. (Source)

Contents

• Digestion Support
• Indigestion
• Constipation
• Gas and Flatulence
• Bloating
• Heartburn

Essential Oils for Digestion Support

Diffuser Blends for Digestive Health

• Rest and Digest: 3 drops lavender and 2 drops peppermint
• Digest and Uplift: 2 drops sweet orange, 2 drops ginger, and 1 drop ylang ylang
• Digestive Support: 2 drops lemon, 1 drop peppermint, 1 drop cardamom, and 1 drop fennel

Source: Essential Oils Hormone Solution

Digestive Health Oil

Use this blend to promote digestion:

• 2 tablespoons jojoba oil
• 9 drops sweet marjoram essential oil
• 6 drops cardamom essential oil
• 3 drops roman chamomile essential oil

Pour jojoba in a 1-ounce (30-ml) glass bottle. Add the essential oils. Cap and shake gently. Apply a little of the blend to your belly and low back after a big meal.

Source: Aromahead

Essential Oil Blend for Digestive Health

• 4 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 drops bergamot essential oil
• 2 drops peppermint essential oil
• 2 drops basil essential oil
• 1 drop either neroli or roman chamomile essential oil
  
• 1 tablespoon carrier oil or unscented lotion

Combine the essential oils in a small dark-colored bottle. Add carrier oil. Close and shake gently.

Thirty minutes before meals, rub a few drops of the blend onto the stomach area and back of hands. Use this concentrated blend sparingly. Inhale as needed from back of hands.

Source: Aromatherapy: A Holistic Guide to Natural Healing with Essential Oils

Essential Oils for Indigestion Relief

In addition to the oils listed at the beginning of the article, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy states the following essential oils may help relieve indigestion: caraway seed, coriander seed, dill seed, petitgrain, and spearmint.

Use any of the oils to make massage blends for your abdomen. Two suggested by the book:

• 10 drops coriander seed essential oil
• 5 drops sweet orange essential oil
• 3 drops ginger essential oil
• 2 tablespoons carrier oil

or

• 10 drops cardamom essential oil
• 5 drops dill seed essential oil
• 5 drops sweet fennel essential oil
• 5 drops caraway seed essential oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil
• 3 tablespoons carrier oil

Indigestion Relief Blend

• 1 teaspoon carrier oil
• 2 drops rosemary ct. cineole essential oil
• 1 drop roman chamomile essential oil
• 1 drop sweet marjoram essential oil

Blend ingredients. Massage onto abdomen as needed.

Source: The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness

Essential Oils for Digestive Issues

Massaging essential oils over your abdomen using clockwise circular movements may help relieve a number of digestive issues. Note: If the suggested essential oils are new for you, test a small patch of skin to make sure you're not sensitive to anything.

Essential Oils for Constipation Relief

Traditional essential oils for constipation include fennel, rosemary, black pepper, ginger, marjoram, and sweet orange.

Constipation Relief Blend

Drop the following essential oils into a 5-ml dark-color dropper bottle:

• 20 drops cypress
• 20 drops sweet marjoram
• 20 drops sweet orange
• 20 drops peppermint
• 10 drops basil
• 10 drops black pepper

Cap the bottle and shake. Let sit at least 8 hours before using. Ways to use:

• Place 3 to 4 drops on a tissue and inhale deeply for 60 seconds.
• Use 10 to 15 drops to make a hot compress and place it over your lower abdomen.
• Mix 4 to 8 drops in 1 teaspoon carrier oil and add it to a warm bath.
• Mix 1 to 2 drops in 1/2 teaspoon carrier oil and gently massage your abdomen and lower back.

Source: Essential Oils Complete Reference Guide

Massage Oils to Relieve Constipation

Blend the essential oils in a small bottle with a cap. Replace the cap and shake. Ideally, let sit for a least eight hours before using. Use a few drops of the blend to massage your lower abdomen in a clockwise direction and your lower back over the spine.

• 3 drops fennel essential oil
• 2 drops yarrow essential oil
• 2 drops thyme essential oil
• 1 drop black pepper essential oil
• 2 tablespoons carrier oil

or

• 5 drops rosemary essential oil
• 3 drops majoram essential oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil
• 1 drop sandalwood essential oil
• 4 tablespoons carrier oil

Source: Essential Oils For Healing

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy suggests the following constipation-relief blends:

• 15 drops rosemary essential oil
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil

or

• 10 drops orange essential oil
• 3 drops black pepper essential oil
• 3 drops coriander essential oil
• 2 drops cardamom essential oil

or

• 15 drops patchouli essential oil
• 5 drops orange essential oil
• 5 drops black pepper essential oil
• 5 drops cardamom essential oil

Blend the essential oils in a small bottle with a cap. For one ab massage, add 3 to 5 drops of the blend to one teaspoon carrier oil or aloe vera gel.

Preventing Constipation

To prevent constipation, eat the recommended 30 or more grams of fiber each day (the average American eats only half that much) and drink lots of water. Also, be aware some medications can cause constipation, as can some supplements (such as iron), and talk to your healthcare provider as appropriate.

Essential Oils for Gas and Flatulence Relief

The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness recommends angelica, cardamom, roman chamomile, fennel, ginger, lemon, peppermint, and rosemary ct. cineole as the best essential oils for gas.

One possible blend to massage onto your abdomen in a clockwise direction:

• I teaspoon carrier oil
• 2 drops roman chamomile essential oil
• 1 drop peppermint or ginger essential oil

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy suggests:

• 2 drops cardamom
• 3 drops peppermint
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil

Other potentially useful essential oils include basil linalool, black pepper, caraway seed, coriander seed, dill seed, eucalyptus dives, and spearmint.

Bloating Relief

To help relieve bloating, massage a little of this blend onto your abdomen.

• 3 drops juniper essential oil
• 2 drops roman chamomile essential oil
• 2 drops sandalwood essential oil
• 1 drop black pepper essential oil
• 1 tablespoon carrier oil

Source: Aromahead Newsletter

Essential Oils for Heartburn Relief

Heartburn Blend #1

• 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 2 drops cardamom essential oil
• 2 drops orange essential oil
• 1 drop black pepper essential oil
• 4 tablespoons carrier oil

Blend the oils in a small dark bottle. Massage a few drops over your stomach in the upper abdomen and upwards onto the chest over the esophagus.

Source: Essential Oils for Healing

Heartburn Blend #2

• 1 teaspoon carrier oil
• 1 drop clove essential oil
• 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 2 drops lavender essential oil

Blend oils. Massage over upper abdomen.

Source: Essential Oils for Health

Buy essential oils from Aromatics International (recommended).

Rocky Mountain Essential Oils.

Become a Certified Aromatherapist.

Aromatherapy for Massage Therapists.

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